While Ryan Seacrest hosts IDOL GIVES BACK from the American Idol stage in Los Angeles, Queen Latifah will join the celebration as emcee live from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, an additional venue sponsored by ExxonMobil, Wednesday, April 21 (8:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) on FOX. This year, IDOL GIVES BACK will feature performances and appearances by some of Hollywood’s biggest stars, including Alicia Keys, Carrie Underwood, The Black Eyed Peas, Annie Lennox and Jeff Beck.

Tickets are currently on sale for the IDOL GIVES BACK celebration at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium and can be purchased by calling 1-800-745-3000 or by visiting ticketmaster.com. Net proceeds from ticket sales will go to the IDOL GIVES BACK Foundation.

Queen Latifah is a musician; a television and film actress; a label president; as well as an author and entrepreneur. Blessed with style and substance, she has blossomed into a one-woman entertainment conglomerate. Heralded by the press and the industry as a force to be reckoned with, Latifah has quite simply done it all and shows no sign of slowing down. She has had amazing success in Hollywood in recent years, and became the first hip hop artist to be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She earned rave reviews, an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress, a Golden Globe nomination and a SAG Award nomination for her portrayal as “Mama Morton” in “Chicago.” No stranger to the small screen, Latifah’s first television series, “Living Single,” was a huge success and currently runs in syndication. She has also written a book on self-esteem entitled “Ladies First: Revelations of a Strong Woman,” and her latest work, “Put on Your Crown: Life Lessons from the Queen,” is set to be released in May. Next up, Queen Latifah will star in the romantic comedy “Just Wright,” a film she also produced.

The brainchild of Simon Fuller, IDOL GIVES BACK has made history by raising over $140 million for charity to date. This year’s special will help raise awareness and funds to benefit various U.S. and international charities, including Children’s Health Fund, Feeding America, Malaria No More, Save the Children’s U.S. Programs and the United Nations Foundation. As previously announced, News Corporation, Ford Motor Company, Coca-Cola, AT&T and ExxonMobil will return as corporate sponsors of IDOL GIVES BACK and will generously donate to the historic Emmy Award-winning television event. Viewers will once again be able to make donations during and following the show. In addition, the week’s voting results will be revealed, sending one of the finalists home.

Additionally, viewers can visit www.idolgivesback.org now and join the “Help Me Give Back” program, an online initiative that empowers individuals and teams to help raise money for IDOL GIVES BACK. The website also allows access to an online auction featuring one-of-a-kind items such as an AMERICAN IDOL Season Ticket Pass, a Meet & Greet with Simon Cowell, a pair of autographed sneakers from Ellen DeGeneres and more. Net proceeds will benefit the IDOL GIVES BACK Foundation, and the auction runs until 11:59 PM PT onTuesday, April 20.

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Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) and ExxonMobil Foundation engage in a range of philanthropic activities that advance education, health and science in the communities where ExxonMobil has significant operations. Globally, ExxonMobil provides funding to improve basic education and combat malaria and other infectious diseases in developing countries. ExxonMobil is the largest non-pharmaceutical corporate donor to malaria research and development efforts, and since 2000 has committed $192 million to Africa community outreach programs, including $68 million on programs to fight malaria. The company established its Malaria Initiative in 2000 to support of the Abuja Declaration on Roll Back Malaria in Africa and national malaria plans in countries where we operate. Since then, ExxonMobil has developed on-the-ground public-private partnerships to fight malaria at the community level, progress treatment and vaccine research and raise awareness and international support, and contributes to anti-malaria efforts in more than 20 African countries.

American Idol is created and executive-produced by Simon Fuller, founder of 19 Entertainment; and executive-produced by Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO, FremantleMedia North America; and Ken Warwick, executive producer, FremantleMedia North America. The series features host Ryan Seacrest and judges Simon Cowell, Ellen DeGeneres, Kara DioGuardi and Randy Jackson.

Visit americanidol.com for more information on IDOL GIVES BACK in addition to exclusive videos, photos, special behind-the-scenes information and all of your American Idol news.